Jewelry mounting support



United States Patent JEWELRY MOUNTING SUPPORT Albert J. McCreery, Warwick, R.I., assignor to C. & M. Manufacturing Co., a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 29, 1956, Serial No. 625,113

1 Claim. (Cl. 20675) The present invention relates generally to mounting supports, and more particularly to supports for detachably mounting jewelry or the like within shipping and display boxes.

- A primary object of the instant invention is the provision of a jewelry mounting support that eliminates the need of die cutting slots and holes for wires, elastics, clips, and the like, such as are usually utilized to maintain the object in place.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a jewelry mounting support which detachably maintains the jewelry items in place without the necessity of utilizing any additional fastening members.

A further object of the instant invention is the provision of a jewelry mounting support constructed of molded thermoplastic.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a jewelry mounting support of the character described which may be readily and easily secured in place within the shipping and display container with which it is associated.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of a jewelry mounting support which readily lends itself to a wide variety of attractive and ornamental arrangements, which is simple and efi'icient in' use, and which is of durable construction.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when considered in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by me for carrying out my invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mounting support constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a section'taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a slightly modified form of mounting support constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on line 99 of Fig. 6;

' Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a mounting support construction particularly adaptable to the mounting of screw-type earrings;

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on line 1212 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of amounting support construction particularly adaptable for the mounting of pressure-clip type earrings;

Fig. 14 is a section taken on line 1414 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a section taken on line 1515 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary plan view of a slightly modified I cult-link mounting support;

Fig. 17 is an edge view thereof; and

Fig. 18 is a section taken on line 1818 of Fig. 16.

In the shipment and display of jewelry articles and accessories, such as cuff links, tie-pins, earrings, and the like, it is conventional practice to detachably mount the items ICC on a support sheet of some sort and then in turn mount the sheet within an ornamental container or box. More specifically, the items are maintained in releasable engagement with the support sheet by means of wires, elastics, clips, or the like, which extend through specially provided holes or openings in said sheet. This type of mounting arrangement has generally proven unsatisfactory, not only for the reason that it sometimes entails considerable difiiculty to disengage the mounted item from its elastic or clip, but also due to the fact that the provision of the necessary holes or slots in the support sheet requires a separate die cutting operation, which, of course, adds to the cost of the overall assembly. In addition, once the item is removed from this type of a mounting, it frequently is difficult to re-mount it should such ever become necessary.

In order to overcome the above-noted operational and manufacturing disadvantages, I have provided an integral, one-piece mounting support capable of being manufactured in one operation. More specifically, there has been provided in accordance with the instant invention a molded thermoplastic sheet having recessed portions therein specially designed so as to resiliently grip an appropriate portion of the jewelry piece being mounted. Due to the fact that my support sheet is of molded plastic, it is an easy matter to incorporate artistically designed pedestal portions and the like whereby to improve the ornamental appearance of the assembly, and at the same time, the plastic sheet may be flocked or otherwise coated whereby to impart a luxurious texture and appearance. The completed mounting sheet may be retained within its associated box or container by being a friction-fit therein or else it may be glued or otherwise adhered to the container interior.

Referring now to the drawings, and more specifically to Figs. 1 through 5 thereof, there is shown generally at 10 a mounting support or sheet constructed in accordance with the instant invention and particularly adaptable to the mounting of a combination cuff link and tie pin set. As previously indicated, the sheet 10 is constructed of any suitable thermoplastic and is manufactured by being vacuum or pressure formed over an appropriate mold. As will be noted, the sheet 10 comprises a marginal frame portion 12 surrounding a raised upper portion 14 and a lower portion 16. The junction 18 is shown as being arcuate in configuration although it will be understood that this is purely for purposes of ornamentation.

The upper portion 14 is adapted to releasably receive therein a pair of cuff links 21 and for this purpose is provided with a pair of T-shaped recesses 22, each of which comprises a crossbar recess 24 and a stem recess 26. The cross-bar recess 24 is of constant depth throughout its length, but, as will be noted most clearly from Fig. 3, the stem recess 26 is of angular inclination, or in other words, of gradually increasing depth. It will be understood that the cross-bar recesses 24 are so dimensioned as to snugly and frictionally receive the retaining bars 28 of the cuff links being mounted. More specifically, the links are pressed into their closed position (the operative position in which they are worn) and are then forced straight down into the cross recesses 24. When the links 1 have penetrated as far inwardly as possible, they are then pull thereupon. When the links are in mounted position,

it will be obvious that they are conveniently and attractivelydisplayed, since the angular inclination of the ornamental face thereof makes approximately a right angle with the line of vision of the ordinary observer,

The lower'sheetportion 16 is'providedwith an elongated recess 32 having oppositely disposed raised arcuate portions 34 located adjacent its longitudinal edges, and further having an aperture 36 provided at oneextremity thereof, note Fig. 2. The recess 32 is adapted to frictionally receive. therein the gripping mechanism 38 of a tie holder 40, and if said gripping mechanism is provided with an elongated'thumb depressor-42, such as shown in Fig. 5, said thumb depressor is adapted to extend through the aperture 36. Here again, the recess 32 is soidimensioned as to frictionally and resiliently engage the sides of the tie pin gripping mechanism38, whereupon said tie pin may be easily-forced into its mounted position, while at the same time, it isonly necessary to exert a slight outward pull thereupon when it is desired to remove it from its mounting.

It will be understood that the variousrecesses utilized in connection with'my invention are specially designed and dimensioned in accordance with the particular jewelry item whichis to be mounted therein. The sheet itself may'have any desirable frame or platform portions integrally molded in connection therewith, and it will be understood that the outer dimensions. of the mounting sheet are such that the latter may be easily maintained within its associated. box or container (not shown) by virtue of making a frictional fit therein. On the other hand, if desired, the sheet couldbe cemented or otherw-ise attached to the box interior. In order that the mounting sheet; may be steadily and rigidly positioned when inserted within its associated box or container, it has been found preferable to have the innermost surfaces of 'the various recesses located in approximately the same plane; Thus, as will be seen most clearly in Fig. 2, the innermost surfaces of the recesses 24 andthe recess 32 are, in effect, adapted to function as mounting feet for engagement with the adjacentsurface of the box or container in which the sheet 12; is inserted. Since the depth of the various recesses may necessarily vary on any one mounting sheet due, for example, to the variation in depth between the gripping mechanism of atie pin and the desirable penetration of a cufflink, it may be necessary to provide raised portions such as the arcuate members 34 in order to raise up the deeper jewelry pieces, whereupon the innermost surfaces of the recessed portions can bemaintained at a substantially equal level, Raisedand loweredsurfaces such as 14 and 16 can also be utilized to achieve this end.

While the foregoing embodiment of my invention is directed to a mounting support for a combination cuff link and tie holder set, it will be understood that the basic concept of my invention is readily applicable to any number or combination of jewelry items. For example, in Figs. 6 through 9 there is shown a mounting support sheet, generally designated at 44, which is adapted to releasably receive a single tie holder 46. Here again, the mounting sheet is constructed of molded thermoplastic and comprises a marginal frame portion 48 and a central portion 50 having an elongated recess 52 formed therein. As will be seen most clearly in Fig. 8, the tie holder 46 is of slightly different construction than the tie holder 40 shown in Fig. 5, the thumb depressor 54 being so arranged as to eliminate the necessity of aperturing the recess 52, Since no aperture is utilized in connection with this particular embodiment, it is necessary that the side walls 56 of recess 52 resiliently grip the outer sides of the'tie holder gripping mechanism, as shown most clearly in Fig. 9. The inherent resilience of the plastic utilized enables the tie holder tobe readily and easily forced inwardly ;to its mounted position and to be selectively removed therefrom simply by exerting an outward thrust or pull on the tie holder. A circular raised pprtion 8 may be integrally incorporated in central portion 50 if desired, both to raise the tie holder upwardly whereupon it will be more readily and attractively visible, and also to improve the ornamental appearance of the overall mounting arrangement and construction.

Figs. 10 through 15 illustrate the adaptability of my invention to the mounting, of earrings. More specifically, Figs. 10 through 12 show a mounting support for screwtype earrings, while Figs. 13 through l5 illustrate my supportas constructed for the reception of pressure-clip type earrings. For the screw-typeearring 60, the mounting sheet 62 is provided. with a recess 64, the side walls 66 of which resiliently and frictionally grip opposite edges of the earring thumb screw cap 68 (note Fig. 12). As will be seen most clearly in Fig.11, the entire mounting portion of the, earring 60 is within the recess 64, only the ornamental earring portion being externally disposed. In mounting the pressure-clip type earn'ng'70, the mounting sheet 72 is provided with a recess 74, the side walls 76 of which resiliently and V frictionally grip. opposite edges of the earring clamping arm.78, note Fig. 15. The normal spring tension ofclamping arm.78 will resiliently bias the ornamental portion of the earring 70 to a flat position wherein it is in abutting engagement with the surface 72, as shown most clearly in Fig. 14.

In Figs. 16 through 18 a slightly modified form of cufflink mounting'support isillustrated, Actually, this form of my invention differs from the cuff-link mountingmeans shown and described'in connection with Figs. 1 through 5 only in that the link-receiving recess 80 is provided with a cross portion 82for receiving the adjacent portion 4 of the cult-link yoke when the link is thrust straight in wardly during the mounting thereof.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the instant-invention a highly simplified and yet effective means for detachably mounting jewelry items and the like within their associated shipping and display containers. The basic concept of my invention is the provision of a molded thermoplastic mounting sheet having specially designed and dimensioned recesses 1ntegrally formed therein, which recesses are adapted to frictionally receive protruding portions of the items to be mounted. As will be obvious, manufacture of my invention requires but one operation, and it will further be obvious that assembly of my mounting sheets within their associated boxes or containers is likewise a Very simple matter.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except in so far as indicated by the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A cuff link mounting support comprising a molded imperforate thermoplastic sheet having at least one pair of identical recessed portions integrally formed therein, each of said recessed portions being of substantially T- shaped configuration and dimensioned so as to frictionally and releasably receive the cuff link cross beam and yoke therein, the cross bar of said T-shaped recessed portion being ofconstant depth, and the stem portion gradually lessening in depth in a direction away from said cross bar and extending slightly across the latter.

References Citedin the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS' 

